The co-founder of the band and reality star, known by his stage name Shifty Shellshock, passed away on Monday at his Los Angeles residence, as reported by Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records.
He was 49 years old. An investigation into the cause of his death has been initiated.
Representatives for the musician did not respond immediately to The Times’ request for comment on Tuesday.
Binzer, who was open about his protracted struggle with addiction, also appeared on the reality series “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” and “Sober House” between 2008 and 2010.
His Southern California band, blending heavy metal and hip-hop, was founded in Los Angeles in 1999 when he and Bret “Epic” Mazur enlisted rock musicians Rust Epique, Doug Miller, James Bradley Jr., Antonio Lorenzo Valli, and Adam Goldstein. The group achieved chart-topping success on the Billboard Hot 100 with their 2000 hit “Butterfly.”
While their debut album “The Gift of the Game” was a commercial success, selling 2.5 million copies globally, their 2002 follow-up “Darkhorse” did not perform as well and ultimately led to the band’s breakup. Binzer subsequently pursued a solo career, releasing his album “Happy Love Sick” in 2004.
“I tried to remove the heavy rock element,” he told The Times then. “This is more surfer hip-hop: hip-hop with reggae overtones, some dance music and R&B influences.”
